#HAM
Sure. They bought the bankrupt hulk of the company after competing them into
the ground. *IF* look and feel is a morally defensible point, then the money
Lotus used to buy SA rightfully belonged to SA in the first place, without any
transfer of title.
It is possible that SA should have PATENTED spreadsheet programs. I think any
truly useful techniques should be in patent law, and that "design to spec" (as
the blue clone BIOSgraphers did) should be completely permissible.
You notice that apple only went after the financially troubled Digital Research
(Atari ST interface) and never even TRIED to go after the *MUCH* closer
Commodore Amiga interface? DR didn't have the money for a lengthy court
battle. Commodore would have welcomed a look and feel suit. "look and feel"
is often a technique for the heavies to lean on the little guy who bothers
their sales.
../greg